Dancing With the Stars Recap: Who Deserves a Spot in the Season 13 Finale? [Updated]

Dancing With the Stars‘ Season 13 semifinal performance night didn’t lack for drama — and every one of the eight people who took to the ballroom floor did their part to heighten the intensity of the mood:

Maksim Chmerkovskiy wore a sheer shirt and planted a smooch on Brooke Burke’s robot cheek. Hope Solo hurled some sass into Carrie Ann Inaba’s visibly outraged face. J.R. Martinez grappled with an injury that turned his always reliable smile into a grimace of pure pain — and had him drop an inaudible F-bomb. Karina Smirnoff whirled and writhed across the floor with athleticism and sex appeal that were positively beastly. Ricki Lake scored a perfect ’30’ for her samba — and was almost convincing feigning surprise at the judges’ adulation. Derek Hough wound up with part of his partner’s dress stuck to his carefully coiffed ‘do. And Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke rode an absurd parade float and wound up underneath an exploding rainbow. (Yes, that last example actually happened.)

The judges did their part to pump up the fireworks, too, forcing Hope to dance with 40 lb. weights strapped to each of her limbs, and threatening to force a rare and beautiful butterfly through a paper shredder each time a viewer vote went to a contestant other than Rob. Okay, fine, that didn’t actually happen, but it was pretty clear the primary goal of the two-hour telecast was to secure a Ricki-JR-Rob Final 3.

Let’s review how the telecast played out:

Dance of the Night: Ricki Lake and Derek Hough (Argentine Tango)
I know, I know, it was Ricki and Derek’s Samba that got the perfect ’30’ from the judges, but I found their Argentine Tango far more 10-worthy. That move where Derek lowered Ricki to the floor in an arched position was one giant leap for human flexibility, and every single move — from the lifts to the leg flicks to the transitions — snapped, crackled, and popped with tension and sexuality. As for the daring hemline of the star’s leg-baring red dress: Go, Ricki, indeed!

Runner-Up: J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff (Paso Doble)
Posture, shmosture! Len complained that JR’s technique was “more zero than Zorro” — despite the fact that he was performing on a badly twisted ankle — but who cares? The duo’s dance had everything I look for in a DWTS routine: Electrifying chemistry, synchronized cape twirling, and a death-defying aerial from Karina (who just gets more fabulous every week, no?). Plus, the costumes were joyously ridiculous: JR in a sheer-and-velvet patterned black shirt and black pants with sparkly seams and cummerbund, and Karina in a white corset and frontier-woman underskirt that solidified her position as the ballroom’s sexiest combatant. Let’s all raise our collective paddles and shout what the judges refused to concede: “TEN!”

(As for JR’s higher-scoring Argentine Tango, can I just say it kind of broke my heart to see our upbeat war hero/soap star grimacing in pain and letting out what looked to be an f-bomb after messing up the final sequence of the routine? Also: Why did JR have to contend with the trickier “Bust Your Windows” — a song that contains the unfortunate line “I’ll probably always have these ugly scars” — when Rob and Ricki both got more traditional music? Conspiracy theorists discuss!)

Should/Will Go Home and Yet Also Most Underscored: Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
First, let me say I’m kind of shocked the DWTS powers-that-be bothered to air footage of Hope discussing her rarely mentioned shoulder injury or getting said injury injected with a shot she’d been “saving for the Olympics.” (Talk about a commitment to the cause!) And yet while her “Can’t Be Tamed” Paso Doble was the night’s weakest routine — the couple resorted back to their old habit of having Maks yank and whirl a befuddled Hope around the floor, while too much time was wasted on the Hope-writhing-in-chains intro and a section where all she did was sit on the floor and watch Maks dance it out — I was shocked they got such tepid feedback on an Argentine Tango that contained seemingly death-defying degrees of difficulty. The judges had to know they were going to use the cha-cha relay to bang the final nail into Hope’s DWTS coffin, so why not reward her with a few 9s, rather than gripe about her technique coming into and out of lifts? I’ve never been completely enamored of Hope’s dancing, and her remark that “from Day 1 they wanted me off this show” failed to acknowledge her underwehlming Season 13 arc, but I wholeheartedly supported her name-checking Carrie Ann for complaining about Maks smiling during their critique. “Maks was smiling because we should be smiling,” an incredulous Hope told the BrookeBot 2011, as Carrie Ann visibly seethed at the judges’ table. To which I say, you’re judging a reality show, sister, not teaching second-grade art: Sometimes you’re going to have to deal with a little bit of backtalk, and it’s better to handle it with grace and good humor than an indignant scowl.

Most Overscored: Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke (Samba/Argentine Tango)
How Carrie Ann assigned a perfect 10 to a routine with some of the stiffest samba rolls in DWTS history is beyond comprehension — unless, of course, you buy into the idea that the judges would do anything to complete Rob’s boy-to-man transformation by all but guaranteeing his presence in the finale. Granted, the guy looked like he was having a blast with the ridiculous DWTS “party float” — complete with balloons, giant parrot sculpture, and overgrown ficus — but to my eyes, Rob still looks like he’s muddling through a series of steps he crash-memorized, rather than engaging in a fully realized dance. As for Rob’s Argentine Tango, I didn’t think it had nearly the speed or crispness of JR’s, and yet it still got the same exact score — three 9s — from those agenda-wielding experts.

Even Lady Robot got in on the action backstage, cooing to Rob that “you may have danced your way to the finals!” Honestly, do the DWTS on-air personalities get $10K bonuses every time they reference Rob’s in-it-to-win-it-ness? Next week I’m half expecting Ricki to wear a “Vote Rob” t-shirt in exchange for a new addition to her summer home.

Most Overscored (Runner-Up): Ricki and Derek (Samba)
I saw a lot of of open-mouthed sexyfaces, but not a single samba roll, in this good-but-not-extraordinary routine, and yet it got 10s across the board. Granted, Ricki’s gams looked gorgeous in her Sesame Street by Big Bird couture feather dress, but I felt like this was more a case of the judges needing to hype something/anything heading into the final week rather than a genuine display of the double-digit paddles.

Most Egregiously Designed to Allow the Judges to Get Their Dream Final 3 — Viewer Votes Be Damned (Cha Cha Cha Relay)
Everyone raise your hand if you knew before even a single step was danced that Rob was getting the 10, Ricki was getting the 8, JR was getting the 6, and Hope was getting the 4. And now outraged/concerned viewers will power-vote for JR (due to his precarious spot on the leaderboard), forget to throw any love to Hope/Maks, and do their part in securing the judges’ dream finale.

Brooke-isms of the Night
“I think you found your way into Bruno’s world!” –Brooke discussing Rob winding up beneath an exploding rainbow at the end of his samba.

Brooke struggling with higher math and repeatedly referring to “all kinds of judges’ totals!” for the contestants. Um, hon, it was just the total of two sets of scores for the opening two dances, added to a 10, 8, 6, or 4 for the cha-cha relay. More egregious was the way she got flustered and declared a 67-67 tie atop the leaderboard for Ricki and Rob, right as the screen showed Rob scoring a grand total of 65.

I despise sounding cliched, but JR really is an inspiration to me and I’m still teary-eyed over his back story footage last night. I was disfigured after an accident too as a child when I was in a car accident with a drunk driver, and it would terrify me to go out in front of a national audience the way he does with the scar on my face. It makes me happy to see him do so well on the show and to see he has talent as a dancer. I’m very sorry he’s injured. Last night definitely wasn’t his best night, though the little Zorro number was cute and the costumes were rocking. Karina’s choreography has gotten a lot better. I thought last night was probably Rob’s best night with the tango, but I’m still not really rooting for him. Hard to call who’d I want to be in the 3rd spot though, I’m not a huge fan of Hope’s either. Derek and Rikki did a fantastic tango, and she is looking amazing. She’s so muscular and strong now. Good for her. Derek is an amazing choreographer, I don’t get the hate towards him. Is it just fatigue from all his wins?

Same! I don’t get why everybody has hate for Derek! Each time he won his partner had the highest average of the season, so the best dancers did win. When he wins he deserves to win, because he taught his partner the best.

I too have watched DWTS since the first season. Tom is excellent at trying to maintain control of the madness. This season really seems to have reached a critical point. I respect that Mr. Goodman has many years as a dancer and a judge, and to his credit the majority of the times he is harsh but honest and will absolutely give credit where it is due, as noted with Hope these past 2 weeks. Bruno is also entertaining, except for the cruel comment to Chaz comparing him to a penguin. CA has turned in to a terrible control freak, hateful and unprofessional and I believe she has stepped over the line, she is no longer unbiased in her judging. All of the professionals are talented in their own right, but having the right partner makes a difference, that is part of what makes the show so entertaining is watching the assigned couple grow as a team. Derek is good, but he does seem to be exceptionally lucky in receiving his dance partners every year. Karinia is shining this year with JR, Tristan has been a nice addition and Maks deserves to say that it is his show in my humble opinion because he is the main reason that I have watched the show from the first time I laid eyes on him in season one. Not only is he gorgeous but his dance style and form is exceptional to watch and I am not the least trained in dance formally, only in watching 13 seasons of DWTS, and over the last 5 years the critisms from CA and Len toward Maks and whoever his partner is: Mel, Brandy, Erin, Kirsty was more fortunate than most and now Hope – I think there is a pattern. I think replacing CA as a judge would be excellent, she is too high and mighty now and I definately agree that Carson should replace Brooke – she is so dull and booring!!! You would make a HUGE mistake loosing Maks!!!

I absoutly love Derek hough, just watching the way be moves on the dance floor is amazing. Everybody always says that Derek has been lucky with his dance partners, this may be true in the case of nichole sherzinger, and probley when it comes to Jennifer grey too, but neither had any professional ballroom training, because if they had they wouldn’t be allowed to participate in the competition. Also in season seven when Derek was partnered with Brooke Burke, she won and has to prior dancing experience what so ever!!! I have to say in my opinion Derek is the best dancer that show has ever seen he is a former IDSF World Youth Latin Champion, And earned 3 creative prime-time Emmy nominations for his choreography on dancing with the stars, more that any other pro. He is just a fabulous teacher and his students always does well, Jennifer grey and him scored more perfect 10s that any other couple, and he has one of the highest if not the highest dancing average on the show at 26.67.

I absoutly love Derek hough, just watching the way be moves on the dance floor is amazing. Everybody always says that Derek has been lucky with his dance partners, this may be true in the case of nichole sherzinger, and probley when it comes to Jennifer grey too, but neither had any professional ballroom training, because if they had they wouldn’t be allowed to participate in the competition. Also in season seven when Derek was partnered with Brooke Burke, she won and had no**** prior dancing experience what so ever!!! I have to say in my opinion Derek is the best dancer that show has ever seen he is a former IDSF World Youth Latin Champion, And earned 3 creative prime-time Emmy nominations for his choreography on dancing with the stars, more that any other pro. He is just a fabulous teacher and his students always does well, Jennifer grey and him scored more perfect 10s that any other couple, and he has one of the highest if not the highest dancing average on the show at 26.67

You can cay that Derek has been lucky, but is awesome teaching abilities have been proven he won with Brooke Burke, and who ever he gets he does great no matter what. Also Maxs has been pretty lucky, I would even say he’s more lucky than Derek. For instance look at Mel b she was in a dance girl group, and had some background in dance, then he had Debi Mazar who had some knowledge of dance because she has appeared in numerous madonna videos, but still with the dance back ground, she didn’t do very good with maxs, So that goes to show the student is just as good as the teacher.

I just wanna said one thing that how you can continue to try all your best if you know that you have 100% to be out. And i think Hope is so sweet and nice in her own way. She is my athlete idol who always try all her best no matter how The Judges comments about herself.